Boost for Cuckfield school's outdoor classroom fund

By Sharon Howe

Following our article in the September issue of Cuckfield Life, we’re delighted to let you know that we’ve recently had some big boosts to our fundraising pot for our outdoor classroom at Holy Trinity.

We want to thank the community of Cuckfield for donating so generously both through our online donation page and supporting us as your charity of choice in the Co-Op’s Local Community Fund.

PTA members Laura Henger and Sharon Stewart, along with Parent Governor Nicola Brewerton, recently attended the Whitemans Green Co-op for the presentation of a cheque for £2,386.05 from the Big Co-Op Payout.

We have also been successful with a £5,000 grant from Southover Manor Trust. This is a charity providing grants and funding for schools, colleges and other educational institutions in Sussex and Brighton & Hove. These contributions, along with previous donations and pledges from the Cuckfield Bonfire Society, Cuckfield Local, Waitrose and other PTA fundraising, are a good chunk of the funding we need, however we still have another £5,000 to go to reach our target. The children and staff at Holy Trinity Primary School are really excited that they could soon be using a new outdoor classroom. We are working hard to get funding for the last £5,000, but the school’s PTA would welcome any donation, large or small, to contribute to our outdoor learning facilities.

Donations can be made via this link: https://bit.ly/34GMHLb

Laines Organic Farm in Cuckfield

By Jacqueline Elmore

When we think of the hymn We Plough the Fields and Scatter the image that we often conjure up is one of a tractor turning over the soil preparing for harvest.

Most of the terrain surrounding Laines Organic Farm right here in Cuckfield is cultivated by hand, not by machinery. Largely by Toos Jeuken, a Dutch farmer who arrived in West Sussex not long after Britain joined the European Union.

Toos explains: “We came to Cuckfield after the UK entered the EU. That’s why many Dutch farmers came to England at that time. Suddenly there was a great opportunity for farmers to grow things here.”

Right now the subject of the EU may be a contentious one but, standing in a sunny field of giant kale, Toos finds some humour amidst all of the panic: “Do you think they might send me back to Holland now that we’re leaving the European Union?”

All joking aside, Toos doesn’t appear to be overly concerned about her passport status. Instead her motivation is clear; to ensure that her crops are protected and well nurtured in time for harvest.

Toos arrived in Cuckfield in 1977 - a year after her father bought the farm with the sole aim of using it to grow vegetables.

The landscape of Laines Organic Farm has changed over four decades. “They built the Cuckfield bypass in 1989,” she explained, “and that split the farm in half. My Dad also sold the old house and some of the land so I now own 20 acres but that’s more than enough to grow the sorts of vegetables we need.”

Full article printed in the March 2019 issue of Cuckfield Life magazine

Sally Nakajima - Village People feature

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Sally Nakajima’s ambition in life is to always capture the moment. This stemmed from losing her father to cancer at an early age and having little to remember him by.

Her career spans across the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong – where her second daughter was born. Now based in Cuckfield, she spends most of her time photographing newborn babies in beautiful and imaginative ways.

By Joe Wayte

Sally was born in Dartford and grew up in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire where some of her family still lives. She graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Fine Art. Together with her husband and two daughters, Sally fell in love with the village and moved here four years ago.

“I’ve always loved the UK – I’m a home girl,” Sally explained, “and while living in Hong Kong we would visit the UK, staying with friends who lived in Balcombe. I told my husband that I didn’t care what the house was like, but we had to live in Cuckfield – I didn’t actually see the house till we moved in, fortunately I loved it.”

[read the full story on page 10 of June 2018's issue of Cuckfield Life magazine]

Echo Baby Photography